physical therapy
physical therapy — noun
1. a medical treatment that helps people recover from muscle pain, joint stiffness,
a medical treatment that helps people recover from muscle pain, joint stiffness, or injury through exercises, massage, and guided movement rather than surgery or drugs.
Reuben needed three months of physical therapy for his knee after the surgery.
physical therapy for [body part] after surgery
The doctor recommended physical therapy for Brooke's lower back pain instead of an operation.
recommended physical therapy for [injury] instead of surgery
Ritu goes to physical therapy twice a week to rebuild strength in her injured shoulder.
After the stroke, physical therapy helped the patient learn to walk with a cane.
- physiotherapy
same treatment, but the standard term in British English and many Commonwealth countries
- rehabilitation
broader concept that includes physical therapy along with other recovery services
- surgery
invasive medical procedure, often considered an alternative to physical therapy for certain injuries
文法句型
physical therapy for [condition/body part]
用法筆記
Commonly used in medical contexts; a practitioner is called a physical therapist (US) or physiotherapist (UK). The treatment itself is often shortened to PT in informal hospital settings.
常見錯誤
2. the medical profession that specializes in restoring or improving people's abili
the medical profession that specializes in restoring or improving people's ability to move and perform daily activities after illness, injury, or disability.
Eleni studied physical therapy at university to help injured athletes recover.
study physical therapy — career path
The hospital just opened a new physical therapy department with modern exercise equipment.
physical therapy department
Advances in physical therapy now allow stroke survivors to regain movement months after their injury.
Quan chose physical therapy after watching his grandfather recover from a hip replacement.
- physiotherapy
the same profession, called physiotherapy in British English; the academic qualification is a degree in physiotherapy
- rehabilitation medicine
a broader medical specialty that includes physical therapy alongside occupational therapy and speech therapy
文法句型
a career in physical therapy
to study physical therapy
the field of physical therapy
用法筆記
This sense refers to the discipline as a whole — the academic field, hospital department, or career path. To talk about a single treatment session, use sense 1.